Major League Baseball has decided to stretch out opening day into three days that could all be given the honor. To most, Thursday is the true opening day. It's the first day of the MLB season with day games and with multiple teams playing on the same day. If kids aren't playing hooky from school, it's not really opening day.

There are two nationally televised games on Thursday, and both are being shown on ESPN2. The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers start off the day at 1 p.m. ET, with Jon Lester facing off against reigning AL MVP Justin Verlander. Immediately after that game, at 4 p.m., Mark Buehrle takes the mound for the Miami Marlins against Johnny Cueto and the Cincinnati Reds.

Other highlights of the day include Stephen Strasburg kicking off his season with a start at Wrigley Field and Clayton Kershaw taking the mound for a Los Angeles Dodgers team that is no longer flat broke. Here's the entire schedule of games, all times ET.

Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers -- 1 p.m., ESPN2
Atlanta Braves at New York Mets -- 1:10 p.m.
Philadelphia Phillies at Pittsburgh Pirates -- 1:35 p.m.
Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs -- 2:20 p.m.
Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians -- 3:05 p.m.
Miami Marlins at Cincinnati Reds -- 4 p.m., ESPN2
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres -- 7:05 p.m.